Antifriction bearing



Dec. 30, 1930. J. E. SHAFER 1,787,214

ANTIFRIC'IION BEARING Filed Jan. 16, 1928 Patented Hashim, ESQ

i esmssmes 'rATEN-T mm ntros is smart, or cnroaeo, rumors, assmnon TO mm. BEARING- conrom- .IION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

A. CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS 'sn'rrrarc'rron Bunnie v My invention relates to antifriction bearings and has particular relation to that class of-bearingsj which utilizes inner and outer races and cooperating rollers therebetwee'n.

--5 United States Patent No. 1,551,334, granted to me on August 25, 1925, shows a roller bearing comprising an inner race member having a bearing surface constituting a segment of a sphere, a plurality of concave bearing rollers conforming to the surface of the inner race member, and an outer race member having a curved. mner'surface conforming to the shape of the rollers. The disclo 1 sure of this patent also includes several forms of retaining members for maintaining the bearing rollers in proper operative positions in the assembled structure. I

Thepresent invention contemplates certain improvements in the structure shown in my above-mentioned patent, as well as in other types of bearings, "and, particularly, in the retaining member :and inner race member ofsucli bearings. These improvements are embodied in the structure without sacrlficing I any of the advantages inherent therein.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved form of retaining member for a bearing of the above-indicated character, the construction of which is simpler and more 39 economical than is that of the forms previwith greater ease and speed than could the devicesheretofore used.

' Further objects and advantages of my vention will appear'upon reference to the lowing detailed description, together with the accompanying drawmgs, in which:

Figure]; is an end elevational view of an assembled bearing embodying my invention and utilizing concave bearing rollers;

2 is 'asectional view taken along the Fig. line I-II of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the rollers, retaining meinber, and inner race mem- Another object of my invention is to pro-- 7 Application filed. January is, 1928. Serial no. 246,921..

b81' '0f the bearing embodying my'inve'ntion, shown in assembled relation Fig. 4 isa fragmentary sectional view taken along the line IVIV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a diametrical sectional view of the 5 rollers, retaining member, and inner race memberofthe bearing, showing the manner in which the same may be'ass'embled; and

- Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, but showing the applicationof my inventionto a bearingutilizing convex bearing rollers.-

eferring to Figs. 1 to 5 ofthe drawings, the bearing comprises, in the particular embodiment 1]lustrated, an inner race member 11 of annular form,-the outer surface of which constitutes a segment of a sphere determined by two parallel planes. It will be observedthat' this bearing surface is of progressively increasing diameter, proceeding from one end' thereof to theother. I I A (plurality of bearing rollers 12 are dispose in operative relation with respect to the bearing surface of the inner race member 11, the bearing surfaces of these rollers substantially conforming to the shape of the inner race'member. An annular outer race member 13 surrounds the bearing rollers 12 and has an inner bearing surface curved substantially to conform to the shape of the rollers. In other words, this surface is com- 0 plementary to the bearing surface of the-inner race member 11. The rollers 12 are maintained in relatively a spaced positions and in proper operating position with respect to therace members by an 5 annular retaining member 14. The member 14.- is of substantially frusto-conical shape,

and has apertures 15 therein within which the bearing rollers 12 are disposed." Therev taining member 14 is strengt ened'by 'annu- '65 16 and 17, the former being turned inward y at that end of the member having I the smaller diameter, and the'latter being' turned outwardly at the opposite end of the member.

At each side of the apertures 15 in the retaining member'14, integral lip portions 18 are struck outwardly and bent to conform to the bearing surfaces oflthe rollers 12, such conformation being most clearlyillustrated in Figs. 3 and 4. The retaining member 14:

is made of such material that these lip portions are slightly resilient, this characteristic beingi utilized for a purpose hereinafter describe Since the lip portions 18 conform to the shape of the rollers 12, and since the rollers are disposed in.clse proximity to the lip suflicient distance portions when the bearing is assembled, the

rollers and the retaining member are constantly maintained in centered relation. This centering action is secured without contact between the ends of-the bearing rollers and the adjacent ends of the apertures 15 friction between the retaining member and the rollers occurs by reasonof the contact between the lips 18 and the bearing surfaces of the rollers. These surfaces are constantly lubricated durin the normal operation of the bearin and, therefore, the resultant wear on either t e rollers or the lip portions of the 'outer surfaces by the lip portions 18.

retaining member is negligible. This wear is further minimized by reason of the fact 1 that the area of contact between the lip portions 18 and the bearing rollers is relatively large. This condition will be apparent upon reference to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.

A further feature of my invention lies in the provision of an annular shoulder portion 19 at the reduced diameter end of the inner race member 11. The outside diameter of this shoulder portion is slightly greater than that of the circle inscribed between the inner edges of the bearing rollers when the latter are in contact with the lip portions 18 .of

the retaining member 14. This construction greatly facilitates the assembly of the bcarmg embodying my invention.

Such assembly is accomplished, as partly illhstrated in Fig. 5 of the drawings, by placing the retaining member 14in a horizontal position and then placing the rollers 12 in; the respective apertures 15 in said retaining member. The rollers will be stable in this osition because they are tilted outwardly cm the bottom and are supported on t-l ielir e inner race member 11 is then inserted from the top, but since the shoulder portion is of greater diameter than the space between the lower edges of the rollers, it becomes necessary to apply suflicient force to the race niember 11 in a downward direction to spring the rollers outwardly. Such movement is possible because, as already stated,-the lip portions 18 are slightly resilient.

Fig. 5 shows the relative positions of the elements when the inner race member has been forced downwardly to the position in which the lower and inner edges of the rollers are in contact with the outermost diameter of the shoulder portion 19. Further downward movement of the race member 11 causes the. shoulder 19 to clear' the lower ends of the rollers, whereupon the race member snaps into normal position with respect to the rollers and the retaining member. this method of assembling the bearing, it will be observed-that the edges of the rollers 12 and of the shoulder portion 19 are sufficiently rounded to permit the described operation without injury to any of the parts.

When the inner race member, rollers and retaining member have been assembledin the manner described, the shoulder portion 19 is effective to prevent disassembly thereof, since any attempt to force the parts out of assembled relation will result in the binding of the ends of the rollers against the 'shoulderpon tion 19. The inner race member, rollers and retaining member, when. once assembled, therefore, constitute a unitary element that may be handled with great ease in assembling the same with the outer race member.

Fig. 6 shows the manner of assembling another form of bearing embodying my invention. The bearing shown in this view is similar to that shown in the other figures, but utilizes a plurality of rollers 20 having convex bearingsurfaces, cooperating with a concavesurfaced inner race member 21 and an outer In reference to race member (not shown) having a complementarily concaved bearing surface. The inner race member 21 comprises the annular shoulder portion 19 of the same form utilized in the bearing shownin the other figures, and the retaining member 14 is similarly provided with the apertures 15, the flanges16 and 17, and the lip portions 18 conforming to the contour of the bearing rollers. The method of assembly of this form of bearing is precisely the same as that of the form hereinbefore describedin detail, and the difference in construction of the two forms is not suflicient to require more detailed illustration or description.

.While I have shown and described only certain specific embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, as set forth in the appended claims I claim as my invention:

1. An antifriction bearing comprising a plurality of bearing rollers and means contactive with said rollers only on the bearing surfaces thereof for retaining the same in position.

2. An antifriction bearing comprising a plurality of bearing rollers and resilient means contactive with said rollers only on the bearing surfaces thereof for retaining the same in position.

ICJ

. .'preventc0ntact between the ends of said r-oll- 'ers and theretaining member. j 7'. An antifriction bearing comprising a plurality of rollers having concave bearing surfacesand a retaining memberhaving a,

1 mamas I 3. antifriction bearing comprising a plurality of bearing'rollers and a retaimng member therefor having resilient projecting ting the same in position.

portions contactive with said rollers only on the bearin'g'surfac'es thereof and solely efi'ective' to maintain said rollers in operative position.- A 1 Y .4. .An antifrict'ion. bearing comprising 'a plurality of rollers having. concavdbe arlng' surfaces and means contactive onlwith the a concave surfaces ofsaid rollers or retain- 5. An antifriction bearing comprising a plurality of rollers having 'co'ncave bearing surfaces and means contactiveonly with the concave surfacesj'of said rollers for retaining the same against endwise displacement. v

-6; Anantifriction bearing comprising .a

plurality of rollers having concave bearing surfaces and a retaining member'having. a plurality of apertures thereinindi-vid'ually' adapted to receivesaid rollers. said retaining member being provided with lip 'portions conforming .to the concave surfaces .of said rollers and contactive. with said surfaces to' plurality of apertures therei'n individually adapted to ,receive said rollers, said, retain-- ing member being providedwith integral lip portions conforming to the concave surfaces of said rollers and eontactlve with said surfaces; to prevent contact between the ende of said rollers and the. retaining member.

. An a'nt if-riction bearing comprisin a plurality of rollers haying-concave bearing surfaces and a retaining member having .a

plurality of apertures therein individually 4 adapted to receive said rollers, said retaining member being provided "with resilient lip portions conforming to the concave surfaces 3 of said rollers and contactive with said sur- .faces to prevent 'contact between the ends of said rollers and the retaining member."

9. An antifriction bearing comprising a/ plurality of rollers having concave bearing surfaces and a retainingvmember having a plurality of apertures therein individually adapted'to receive saidrollers, said retaining member being provided with integral resilientlip portions conforming to the concav'e surfaces of. said rollers and contactive w1th saidsurfaces to prevent contact between the pendsof said rollers and the retaining memher.

10. An antifriction. bearing. comprising a plurality of rollers having concave bearing surfaces and a substantially frusto-conical retaining member havinga plurality of ap- -er'tu res therein .individually adapted to vre- ,ceivej said rollers, said retaining member being provided with integral resilient lip .taining member comprisin facilitate assembly of the bearingg from eir normal positions to semblyof the bearing;

portions conforming to the concave surfaces of said rollers and eontact'rve with said surfaces to prevent contact between the ends of said rollers'and the. retaining member. 11 An antifriction bearing comprising an 12.- An 7 antifriction bearing comprising an inner race member, an-outer race member, a plurality of bearing rollers disposed between said race members in axially inclined relation thereto, and a retaining memher for maintalmng said rollers 1n operatlve positions, said inner race member comprising an inte ral annular shoulder portion projecting t erefrom and said retaining. .member comprising resilient portions adapted to rmlt displacement of said rollers '13. A unitary bearing element'comprising facilitate asa plurality of bearing rollers,.-an' integral retaining member having resilient portionsadapted to contact with said rollers, 'and. a

race member havin an integral projecting portion for maintaining the element ineassembled relation and over which th rollers are sprung against the action of the said resilient portions 'to seat them in operative 4 position.

14. A unitary bearing element comprising a plurality of bearing rollers, an'lintegral retaining member having resilient portions adapted normally to retain said rollers.

a ainst displacement in any direction and a rac member having an integral projecting portion adapted to cause displacement of said rollers against the spring action: of said resilient portions when the element is being assembled and thereafter to prevent disassembly of the element by coaction with the ends of said rollers. v

15. A unitary bearing element comprising a plurality of rollers having concave bearing surfaces, an integral retaining memher having resilient portions conforming to said concave bearing surfaces and adapted normally to retain said rollers against dis: lacement in any direction, and a race memr having an integral projecting portion adapted to cause displacement of said rollers against the spring action of said resilient portions when the element is being assembled and thereafter to prevent disassembl of the element by coactlon with the ends 0 said rollers.

16. A self-aligning antifriction bearing comprising a plurality of rollers having concave bearing surfaces, a retaining member therefor having portions conforming to said concave bearing surfaces and adapted nor-- mally to retain said rollers against displacement, and inner and outer race members cooperating with said rollers, said inner race member having a bearing. surface of substantially spherical formation and havinga portion so disposed as to'prevent' the disassembly of" said rollers, retaining member and inner race member after these elements have been assembled' in'their normal 3 relative positions, but to permit suficient tilting of'said rollers and retaining member with respect to said inner race member to I accommodate any ordinary degree of misalignment of the axes of said inner and outer race members. i 17. A self-aligning antifriction bearing comprising a plurality of rollers havting' concave bearing surfaces, a retaining member therefor having portions conformingto said concave bearing surfaces and adapted normally to retain said rollers against displacement with their axes inclined with respect to the normal axis of the bearing,oand I inner and outer race'members cooperating with said rollers, said inner race member 7 having a bearing surface of substantially spherical formation and of progressively increasing diameter from one end to the other endthereof and having a portionadjacent- "the end of the bearing surface of "smallest diameter to prevent the disassembly of said rollers, retaining member and inner race member after'these elements have been assembled in their normal relative positions, 40 but to permit sufiicienttiltingof said rollers and retaining member with respect to said inner race member to accommodate any ordinary degree of misalignment of the axes of said inner and outer race members. In witness whereof, I have hereunto sub-,

scribed my name.

JUVLIUS E. SHAFER'. 

